Safety clothespin



SePt- 20, 1949- G. b. KUNKEL 2,482,625

SAFETY CLOTHESPIN Filed Aug. 31, 1945 nNvNTo BYG'uS'L Ve D. Kun/Kel ma @ze ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1949 Y Y SAFETY cLoTnEsPIN f' l -v Gilstave D. Kunkel, Bridgeport, Conn. 1 Application August 31, 1945;" 'Serial No. 613,725v

This invention relates to'clothespins. -An object of the invention is to provide an r' `'improvedclothespin of simple and economical construction, which isv extremely easy to apply fand which holds the clothes [on the line with considerable tenacity so that there isobviated the "dropping of clothes and consequent soiling Vthereofl vv''filiother object of the yinvention is to provide a"clothespin having the above characteristics, which is more rugged and' resistant to splitting 'or 'breakage during vuse, and which may not-be veasily inadvertently dismantled. v 7 A feature of the inventionis the provision of a clothespin having the aboveY advantages, which while gripping the clothes firmly, operates so as tocause less abrasion and wear to the clothes.

Another'feature-'of -the invention isthe provisionl of a clothespin having a number of components or parts so arranged that those not re' quired to be accessible are enclosed, out of view and protected. v 'Y These and other objects and -features are attained, as illustrated in the embodiment of the 9T-'invention described herein, by a 110Ve1 tlucture comprising an elongate body 'and finger-operable i sleeve slidably mounted thereon, one end portion of thel latter and aside portion of the body havxvingcooprabl hook-shaped jaws arranged to clamp between them both the line and the clothes grain tension when in use and therefore often n splits; instead the clamping pressure is obtained by use of a metal compression spring carried within the body and sleeve and concealed thereby,

andthe working stresses of the latter two parts 1 :are such that, even if these be made of wood there is Vno possibility of their structural failure and consequent breakage of the clothespin, and there- 'fore no possibility of the pin failingto .hold the` 1 clothesto the line.

' In applying the .clothespin of the present in- I:vention to clothes on a line, the jaws of the pin are spread widely so that they may be placedy over the line and fold of the'clothing without rubbing y'1 Claims. (01447-9137) .for friction. iWhen the clothespin'is releasedffthe :jaws: cometogetherY and clamp the folded cloth to the line without. abrasion or wear, incontra- Ydistinction to the Wedging type of action commonly employed in clothespins, where the surface of the cloth is subjected to an abrading acg tion which causes 'unnecessarywean Other features and advantagesy will hereinafter v appeal'.- Y Y10 i Fig. 2 is a similar view but withy theV parts held in open position,y preparatory to applying the clothespin to clothes on a line.

" 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the clothespin,` .clamping a cloth to a clothesline, and

VFig. 4 is a. transverse section on the line 4 4 ofFlg.3.-.- v .f rThe clothespin shown, illustrating a preferred r embodiment ofthe invention, comprises anvelonlgate cylindrical body I0 having a longitudinal circular bore Il .extending from one end lila thereof toa point adjacent the opposite end Ib. The body IIJ is vprovided with an elongate cut I2 having a depth approximately equal to the radi-us of the body, so that the flat longitudinal walls -I2a of the cutlie substantially in a diametrie plane of the body, as shown in Fig. 4, At one end o-f the cut I2 the body has a flat transverseV shoulder I3, and at the otherend of the cut, the 1, body is shaped to provide a hook I4v adapted to function as a ,clamping jaw. Preferably the radius of the hook I 4 is approximately equal to,

"i201" Slightly .larger than that of a standard rope clothesline. f

For cooperation with the jaw I4, and for oon- -venient manipulation bythe finger of a hand,

there is provided a clamping sleeve I5 of circular Lt-ubular shape', closely tting and slidable on the exterior of the vbody I Il. One end `of 'the sleeve I5 is cut away to provide a hook-shaped jaw I5a adapted to cooperate with the jaw I4 of the body 1 for clamping purposes.

As shown in Fig. 3, the jaws I4 and I 5a may be I6 folded over a clothesline I1. Y

For the purpose of providing yieldable clamping pressures between the jaws I4 and I5a, the

sleeve.|5 is spring-urged toward a limiting position as shown in Fig. 1, nearest the left end Illb ofthe body I0. `To accomplishthis, a helical compressionspring I8 islocated.;wthin the bore Il of the body l0, one end of the spring engaging a plug I9 press-tted in the end Illa of the body, and the other end engaging a plunger 20 slidable in the bore The plunger 2D engages one end of a semi-cylindrical lug or abutment 2| located within the bore of the sleeve I5, the said lug being secured to the sleeve by a driven pin 22. Preferably the other end 2 la of the lug 2| is concave shaped as shown to conform to the hooklike contour of the lower end of the jaw |aof the sleeve I5.

Thus it will be seen that, due to the compression of the spring I8, the plunger 20, lug 2| and sleeve I5 will be continually urged toward the left endA |017 of the body Iii, bringing the jaws |4 and |50, together for clamping purposes. The sleevel I5 is prevented from passing beyond the extended left position shown in Fig 1 by engagement of the jaw I4 with the lug 2 I. Similarly, the sleeve I5 is prevented from passing beyond the fully retracted position shown in Fig. 2 by engagement of the lug 2| with the shoulder I3 ofthe body Il] which forms a stop therefor.

Preferably the exterior of the sleeve I5 is provided at the sleeve ends, with portions b and |50 of enlarged diameter to enable the fingers of a users hand to readily grip the sleeve for retracting the same. The retracting .operation may be conveniently carried out by the fingers of the hand which supports or holds the clothespin, in the following manner. The end lila of the clothespin body may be placed against the palm of the hand, near the center. The thumb and forefinger .ofthe hand may then grasp between them the enlarged portion IEb of the sleeve I5, and the latter may be moved to the retracted position shown in Fig. 2 .by bending these fingers to shorten their el'lective length, thereby compressing the spring I8, separating the jaws I4 and Ilia and enabling the clothespin to be readily placed in position for clamping a cloth on a line. Upon releasing the thumb and foreflnger, the sleeve I5 will snap back under the urging of the spring I8, causing the jaws It and |50J to clamp the cloth I and line I'I as shown in Fig. 3.

Another method of conveniently retracting the sleeve I5 while holding the clothespin in one hand is to place the end |911 of the body against the web -like junction of the thumb and oreflnger, adjacent the palm, and grasp the enlarged portion Ic of the sleeve between the thumb, fore and middle fingers in the manner one grasps a pen or pencil. The fingers may then be flexed to easily and quickly retract the sleeve I5.

if desired, the exterior surface of the sleeve I5 may be knurled to provide for a non-slipping surface. The body ld, sleeve I5, plug |9,-plunger 2: and lug 2| may be all advantageously made of wood. Or they may be made of suitable plastic material, or of metal, as desired.

Other methods .of fastening the plug I9 and lug 2| to the body I6 and sleeve I5 respectively may be employed. These parts may be cemented together, or welded, soldered, or otherwise joined.

Preferably the bore |I of the body IG, at its innermost end lla extends beyond the hookshaped end or jaw Ill of the cut I2 thereby providing a recess in the jaw which facilitates vits holding properties.

When the clothespin is clamping a cloth I6 to a clothesline Il as shown in Fig. 3, a positive gripping action is obtained under the urging of the spring It, due to the substantially complete encirclement of the line by the jaws AIll and I'a. VIt will be seen that by this encirclement the likelihood .of the line I1 and cloth I6 slipping out of the grasp of the jaws is extremely remote, even though strong pulls are exerted on the cloth. Therefore, by use of the present improved clothespin, there is obviated the pulling of clothes from the line by the wind, for example, with the consequent soilage and necessity for rewashing or recleaning.

`Because of the one hand manipulation, when hangingclothes on a line the cloth may be wrapped around the line with one hand and the clothespin opened and applied with the other hand.

Analternative method of applying the clothespin after the cloth has been wrapped around the 'line would be to grasp the end portion Ita of the y body firmly in the hand, apply the clothespin to Ll Il the cloth and line at the point indicated by the numeral 23 in Fig. 1, and press the sleeve I5 back to retracted position by pressure against the same by the cloth and line. It will be found that, by such a procedure the cloth I5 and line I? will snap in between the jaws |15 and Ia and be securely held thereby, all without first touching or drawing back the sleeve i5 with the lingers. The clothespin as thus constructed presents a neat and attractive appearance due to the spring I8, plug I9, plunger 2Q and lug 2| being completely enclosed, and this construction prevents tampering lwith these parts, or inadvertent interference with their functioning, and protects the spring I8 from the elements and other destructive instrumentalities. Also, there is no possibility of the parts springing out of place, to render the clothespin inoperative, since they are wholly confined.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A clothespin comprising an elongate body having a cut in one side, a portion of the body bordering said `cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hook-shaped jaw cooperable with the jaw of the body for clamping clothes to a line; means on the body forryieldably urging the sleeve to a clamping position on the body wherein the jaws are brought together to clamp the line between them; and a stop on the body for limiting movement of the sleeve ,on the body in a direction separating the jaws.

2. A clothespin comprising an elongate hollow bodyhaving a cut in one side, a portion of the body bordering said cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hook-shaped jaw cooperable with the jaw of the body, each of said jaws having opposed clamping surfaces for clamping clothes to a line; means, including a compression spring carried within the hollow of the body, for yieldably urging the sleeve to a clamping position on the body wherein the clamping surfaces of the jaws are brought together to clamp the line between said surfaces; and a stop on the body for limiting movement of the sleeve .on the body in a direction separating the jaws.

3. A clothespin comprising an elongate cylindrical body having a cut in one side extending longitudinally of the body, a portion of the latter at one end of the cut'comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hook-shaped jaw cooperable with the jaw of the body, each of said jaws having a clamping surface for clamping clothes to a line; a lug secured to the inside of the sleeve, extending into the cut .of the body and engaging the walls of the cut for preventing rotative movement of the sleeve, said lug having a clamping face opposed to the jaw on the body; means engaging the lug for yieldably urging the sleeve to a clamping position on the body wherein the lug and jaws are brought together to clamp the line between them, said lug, by engagement with an end Wall .of the out in the body, limiting longitudinal movement of the sleeve in a direction separating the jaws.

4. A clothespin comprising an elongate cylindrical longitudinally bored body having a cut in one side extending longitudinally of the body, a portion of the latter at one end of the cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw having a clamping surface; a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hook-shaped jaw having a clamping surface cooperable with the clamping surface on the jaw of the body for clamping clothes to a line; a lug secured to the inside of the sleeve, extending into the cut of the body and engaging the walls of the out for preventing rotative movement of the sleeve; a compression spring located within the bore of the body, applying pressure to the lug and yieldably urging the sleeve to a clamping position on the body wherein the clamping surfaces of the jaws are brought together to clamp the line between them, said lug, by engagement with an end wall of the cut in the body, limiting longitudinal movement of the sleeve in a direction separating the jaws. Y

5. A clothespin comprising an elongate body having a cut in one side, a portion of the body bordering said cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hook-shaped jaw cooperable with the jaw of the body, each of said jaws having a clamping surface for engaging and clamping clothes to a line; means for yieldably urging the sleeve to a clamping position on the body wherein the jaws are brought together; and a stop on the body for limiting movement of the sleeve on the body in in a direction separating the jaws, said sleeve, when in clamping position, covering and concealing the cut in the body at all points except where the line extends through the cut.

6. A clothespin comprising an elongate, cylindrical, longitudinally bored body having a substantially diametri@ cut in one side extending into the bore, and extending longitudinally of the body, a portion of the latter at one endof the cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a circular sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, an end portion of said sleeve comprising a hookshaped jaw cooperable with the jaw of the body, said jaws having clamping surfaces for clamping clothes to a line; a semi-cylindrical lug secured to the inside of the sleeve, extending into the cut and engaging the surfaces thereof to prevent rotative movement of the sleeve on the body; a plunger closing the bore and slidable in the bore of the body for engaging the said lug; a plug fitted into the bore of the body at one end thereof; and a compression spring located in the bore of the body between the plug and the plunger, urging the latter and sleeve to yieldably maintain the jaws in clamping position, said lug of the sleeve, by engagement with an end wall of the cut in the body, limiting longitudinal movement of the sleeve in a direction separating the jaws.

'7. A clothespin comprising an elongate body having a cut in one side, a portion of the body bordering said cut comprising a hook-shaped jaw; a clamping member including a sleeve encircling the body and slidable thereon, said member having a hook-shaped clamping surface opposed to and cooperable with the jaw of the body for clamping clothes to a line, said member having an enlarged diameter to provide a finger, grip; means on the body for yieldably urging the member to a clamping position on the body wherein the jaws are brought together; and a stop on the body for limiting movement of the member on the body in a direction separating the Jaws.

GUSTAVE D. KUNKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

